Two Zimbabweans Arrested in South Africa with R1.2 Million Worth of Dagga

Two Zimbabwean nationals have been arrested in Mpumalanga after police seized 200kg of dagga worth R1.2 million from a truck on the N2 near Mahamba (image source)

Mpumalanga, South Africa — Two Zimbabwean nationals have been arrested after South African Police Service (SAPS) officers intercepted a truck on the N2 near Mahamba and discovered about 200 kilogrammes of compressed dagga valued at approximately R1.2 million.

The suspects, identified as Tinashe Chitsamba (40) and Oscar Mutsetemari (45), appeared before the Mkhondo Magistrate’s Court facing charges of dealing in dagga. Authorities are also investigating possible immigration violations linked to their residency status.

According to SAPS, the arrest occurred at around 8:35pm on 4 December during routine crime-prevention patrols. Officers stopped and searched the truck, uncovering six large bags of compressed dagga concealed inside. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects were travelling from Empangeni, with Zimbabwe listed as the intended destination, and that the consignment was allegedly loaded at Tshelejuba, on the eastern side of Mahamba in KwaZulu-Natal.

The truck and the narcotics were seized and remain impounded as evidence. Police said the operation forms part of intensified anti-drug trafficking deployments in Mpumalanga, targeting rural and border-adjacent transport corridors used by syndicates to move contraband.

With the festive season approaching, authorities have increased patrol visibility and stop-and-search operations, noting that drug trafficking and smuggling typically rise during this period. Analysts say enforcement agencies are focusing on major highways and feeder roads that link KwaZulu-Natal transit hubs to cross-border routes.

Prosecutors are expected to confirm the full charge sheet as investigations continue, including the valuation of the seized drugs and any immigration-related offences. If convicted, the suspects face heavy fines and lengthy prison sentences under South African law, particularly given the scale and cross-border nature of the alleged crime.

SAPS has urged communities and businesses along highway corridors to report suspicious cargo movements and preserve CCTV footage when incidents occur, as such intelligence remains critical in dismantling trafficking networks.